The Lost Album of the SS

This documentary follows historian Stephan Hördler, who discovered a photo album in the United States in 2016. The collection contains 250 previously unknown images of a group of friends from one region of Germany who all joined the SS. By analyzing these photographs from 1928 to 1943 and comparing them with other records of concentration camp staff, Hördler uncovered how these men were trained at Lichtenburg. The film explores how this training site functioned as a school for future executioners, creating lifelong bonds and informal networks that provided mutual support even after the war.

The production is a joint effort between Germany and France, involving production companies such as CNC, ARD, France Télévisions, and ZED. It was directed by Barbara Necek, Susann Reich, and Jobst Knigge. For Barbara Necek, this project followed her 2023 film Ghettos in the Holocaust. For Jobst Knigge, it was the first of three listed works, preceding Wie Kriege enden und Frieden möglich ist in 2025 and Westerwelle in 2026. The film features Loïc Corbery as the narrator and voice-over artist. The documentary has a runtime of 57 minutes.